ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´

Animal handling competencies

You'll be required to have a good working knowledge of the care, management and handling of dogs and horses. confirming achievement of competencies with both horses (equine) and dogs (canine). These are listed below for guidance:

Canine competencies

• Follow hygiene protocols.

• Risk assess environments, animals and handlers.

• Approaches dogs safely and in a manner appropriate to the behaviour of the dog.

• Can fit correct and remove a collar/harness and lead correctly.

• Lead a dog safely on a short lead in a clinical/professional environment.

• Encourage a dog to move through basic positions (sit, stand, down) or transitions of pace using low arousal cues.

• Use low stress methods to return a dog to the owner/kennel/crate.

• Identify normal versus stress behaviour (ears, eye, tail, muscle tension) and adjust handling accordingly; describe when to cease handling.

Equine competencies

• Follow hygiene protocols.

• Risk assess environments, animals and handlers.

• Approach a horse safely and in a manner appropriate to the behaviour of the horse.

• Fit a head collar and tie up with a quick-release knot.

• Remove a horse from a stable and walk across yard in the correct and safe position.

• Apply a bridle and saddle.

• Lead in walk, halt, trot, and turn in hand and maintain a safe handling position.

• Return a horse to a stable, manage door and removal of restraint safely and competently.

• Lift, support and put down each foot correctly (front and hind), checking shoes/foot integrity without compromising own or horse’s balance.

• Identify normal versus stress behaviours (ears, eye, tail, muscle tension) and adjust handling accordingly; describe when to cease handling.

For some students, we will expect this to take up to three weeks of animal handling work experience to reach these competencies if they have no previous experience with the species. This does not have to be in one block. Owning your own animals will not be sufficient. Shadowing of a veterinary physiotherapist is not required at this stage. If you are unsure, please contact us to check whether your animal handling placement is adequate.

Veterinary Practice experience (Observational)

confirming evidence of a minimum of five working days in a veterinary practice.

Submission deadline

Both the Canine and Equine competencies and Veterinary Practice evidence should be submitted and met by 1 September of your year of entry for entry onto the course. If you do not meet this by this date you will be unable to register and start the course in that year of entry.

Person completing the form

The form must be completed by the person supervising your work experience placement. This person must hold a professional qualification in the equine or canine field (Equine - minimum of BHS level 3 and Canine - holds an accredited qualification). The professional signing the form must not be related to you. This needs to have been seen within 12 months of completing this form.

Official References

In addition to the competency evidence required above, we also require ONE signed and satisfactory official reference for your application. This should be dated within 2 years of your application and can be either professional (relating to animal handling) or academic. Scanned references should contain a signature and be on official headed paper. Alternatively, references can be submitted via the online reference system. Please supply the title, name and an official email address for the referee when you apply.

We welcome applications from qualified veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and human physiotherapists. Prior learning must be to at least bachelor degree level.

Animal handling experience

You'll be required to have a good working knowledge of the care, management and handling of dogs and horses. This will need to be evidence through animal handling references and sign off related to a list of competencies. Additionally, a minimum of five working days in a veterinary practice is required, ideally with a mix of large and small animals. This does not have to be in one block. Owning your own animals will not be sufficient. If you are unsure, please contact us to check whether your animal handling experience/ competency is adequate.

We take into consideration previous work experience, but we do ask that your animal handling competency has ideally taken place in the last 12 months.

Read our guidance for pre-course work experience.

We have produced a with all the details we need about your pre-course animal handling competency. This should be completed by the person supervising you. This form will only be for new experience completed after your original application for the course, which becomes a condition of offer if successful at interview.

We welcome applications from qualified veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and human physiotherapists. Prior learning must be to at least bachelor degree level.

Please note that we can only consider international students for this course who have an immigration status which allows them to study in the UK without a student route visa e.g. settled status. 

Please note, due to the placement requirements of this course, it is not available to those who require immigration sponsorship from the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ or a visitor visa to study or work in the UK.

If you would like to ask questions about your situation, you can contact the

If you hold immigration permission under the EU Settlement Scheme, you are permitted to study this course. Read more information about the